British Canadian company Entertainment One (eOne) has announced plans to film a special performance of the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Come From Away in May for release in September 2021.
The live filming of the show at the hit production’s New York home, the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, will offer employment to over 222 people including members of the Broadway cast, crew, staff and creatives. The Alchemy Production Group will provide stage production and general management while Radical Media, the company behind the filmed version of Hamilton, will film the production.
In a statement announcing the project, Nick Meyer, eOne’s president (film) said: “Come From Away is a triumphant story about the power of humanity in the face of incredible darkness. Now more than ever, we are eager to be able to create meaningful and uplifting content and are excited to partner with this outstanding creative team to share the story with audiences everywhere.”
Radical Media’s executive producer Dave Sirulnick added: “We are thrilled to be joining this extended Gander community to continue to share Come From Away’s beautiful story of togetherness through a filmed version of the musical, particularly at a time when live theatre is shuttered in much of the world.”
The show’s Tony Award-winning director Christopher Ashley will direct the filmed production, following on from his recent direction of the filmed version of the controversial musical Diana for Netflix. Come From Away’s creators Irene Sankoff and David Hein will serve as executive producers along with Radical Media’s Sirulnick, Jon Kamen and Meredith Bennett. Jennifer Todd and Bill Condon will produce alongside the original stage producers Junkyard Dog Productions and US film and TV producer Mark Gordon who originally optioned the show after seeing the musical in previews. Brittney Hapner will serve as co-producer.
Inspired by the remarkable true story of the 7,000 stranded air passengers who found refuge in a small Canadian town in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terror attack, the show that celebrates man’s humanity at a time when the world was horrified by the depths of its inhumanity has been a hit with both audiences and the critics.
Featuring a book, music and lyrics by Sankoff and Hein, the Broadway production of Come From Away won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Ashley while the London production at the Phoenix Theatre collected four Olivier Awards including the Olivier for Best New Musical. Before Covid-19 hit productions were playing to packed houses across the world with the Broadway production forced to suspend all performances on 12 March 2020, the eve of the musical’s third anniversary.
In London plans for a specially adapted concert version of the show which was due to play the hit show’s West End home this month were recently shelved due to the current lockdown and performances of the full London production are now on hold until 18 June. The current proposed date for the reopening of some Broadway shows is 30 May.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.